A BURMAN ON THE SHOULDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2471, 12 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A BURMAN ON THE SHOULDER.

Cousin Jack lays him out.

A wkitkk in the San Francisco Chronicle, says: —"As I have already mentioned, the Burmese, are fine wrestlers, this exercise calling for much strength on the part of the players. The matches are decided sheer animal force, as they do not know anything about the feints and dodges practised by the so called civilized white men. The better man with them is just the most muscular, and there is not much knack about the affair. Whilst in Mandalay, the capital of Upper Biirmah, I witnessed a wrestlingmatch worthy of mention. There was a professional wrestler in the city who had gained a great reputation among his fel-low-countrymen, Ho had vanquished all who had attempted a bout with him, and was, in consequence, very proud of the reputation he had gained. It appears that he had then gone to the Britsh camp, and, through an interpreter, challenged the white soldiers to try conclusions with him. Many did so, but were all, without exception, ingloriously vanquished. This wrestling business had gone on for about a week, when it was reported to the officer commanding. As it was considered impolitic to allow this state of things to continue, the General made inquiries among the officers of the garrison to find out if they knew of a champion who could meet the Burman athlete on equal terms. A Cornishman, a sergeant of artillery, then on duty at one of the outposts, was mentioned to hiin as a famous wrestler, so the General had him sent for. In the meantime, the men were forbidden to wrestle with the native. A few days after Sergeant Polworth made his appearauce in the garrison—a curly-headed good-natured fellow of hcreulean proportions, and a great favourite with all who knew him, The evening of his arrival the Burman with his fiiends accompanying him, came to the camp, deriding the men, calling them women in men's clothes, stating that he was able to throw any British soldier, or any other white man who might be induced to stand up against him.

The abuse was in Burmese, but an interpreter who was with him faithfully rendered it into intelligible English. The men were prepared, and called out that they would have another trial of strength with the native champion. Taking Sergeant Polworth with them, the men proceeded to the wrestling-green, where a ring was soon formed of soldiers and natives. Nearly all the officers of the garrison were present, and everything was conducted and carried out in au orderly manner. The Burman threw off his body cloth of cotton, keeping on his waistbaud only. A splendid looking fellow he was truly, of line form and development, and huge muscles, seemingly as rigid as if of iron. A buzz of approval greeted him on all sides.

Our Coi'nishman then stripped, taking of! tunic and silirt and wearing a broprl belt round his waist; a very broad-shoul-dered, muscular, big-chested man he was too. They were now both ready for the encounter. The betting was pretty oven at first, from the fine physique of the native. The combatants took their places face to face, their hands grasping each other's shoulders, The struggle then commenced in earnest. Each seemed to strain every .-inew in the effort to throw the other, but without success for several minutes. At length the Cornisbman made a mighty offort, put forth all his strength and science of the game, and, before we could hardly realise the fact, hurled the Bnrmnn over his left arm. The native fell heavily to the ground on his head, stunned and motionless. The thing was done so quickly and unexpectedly that all were taken by surprise. For a minute there was a dead silence, then a wild cheer of victory rose from the assembled whites at the success of their man. The vanquished champion, still unconscious, was carried off the ground by his friends, whose usually jolly countenances showed disappointment clearly marked ou them. The next day the General had a proclamation issued, written in Burmese and English, forbidding natives and soldiers to wrestle with each other, lest an illfeeling should bo generated between the people and Europeans. Thus was the prestige of the troops restored, and Sergeant Polwarth became tlie hero of the day. A purse of 500dol. was made up for the honest fellow, and he had no reason to regret the wrestling match at any rate.